Taiwan Prioritizes Safety: Lithium Battery Sensors Removed Due to Fire Risk

Government Takes Proactive Steps to Prevent Wildfires by Removing Air Quality Monitoring Devices

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The National Science and Technology Council in Taiwan has taken decisive action to address safety concerns, removing air quality sensors powered by lithium batteries from various locations across the island. This move underscores Taiwan's commitment to environmental protection and public safety.

Minister Wu Cheng-wen (吳誠文) of the National Science and Technology Council announced that the agency had removed these devices from Hsinchu, Nantou, Tainan, and Chiayi before May. Furthermore, the council is strengthening its inventory procedures and implementing improved management and monitoring mechanisms for all electronic research equipment nationwide.

The decision was prompted by a fire incident on April 14 on the Qixingshan Hiking Trail in Yangmingshan National Park, where a lithium battery-powered air quality sensor caused a fire that burned for over five hours, affecting approximately 4.5 hectares of vegetation.

In 2022, the National Institutes of Applied Research, an affiliate of the National Science and Technology Council, had deployed solar-powered air quality sensors at the Xiaoyoukeng Recreation Area on Yangmingshan. These devices were designed to transmit data using the Band 20 radio frequency to assess their functionality in areas without Wi-Fi or 5G coverage. These solar powered devices were considered safe and underwent testing.

The National Park Service estimates that the area impacted by the fire on Yangmingshan will take approximately a year to fully recover. The post-disaster repairs, rescue efforts, and replacement of equipment are estimated to cost around NT$1.8 million (US$55,500).

The Interior Ministry emphasized the importance of protecting species habitats and biodiversity within national parks, where various monitoring instruments, including weather sensors and ecological survey tools, are utilized. To further prevent equipment-related wildfires, the National Park Service will conduct a comprehensive review and inspection of all monitoring devices installed in national parks.